STANDISH — The Fryeburg Academy softball team proved it still had a little comeback left in it.

The Raiders rallied from behind once again to claim a third straight Western B title with a 4-3 win over Maranacook at Ward Park at Saint Joseph’s College.

Fryeburg, which fell behind 5-0 to Lisbon and 3-0 to Gray-New Gloucester before coming back to win those previous tourney games, was down 3-0 to the Black Bears Wednesday and  running out of time before a fifth-inning rally. The Raiders go for a third straight state title Saturday at Coffin Field in Brewer at 4 p.m.

“They believe in each other,” said Fryeburg coach Fred Apt, whose team graduated six seniors and nearly his entire infield from a year ago. “They believe in themselves. Going into this, we were behind the eight-ball. We were totally rebuilding, and we knew we had to work hard.”

The Raiders established a blue collar work ethic during a preseason trip in Connecticut. It has stuck with the Raiders through thick and thin this season. When the Black Bears had Fryeburg hitters baffled early, the Raiders didn’t give up. Maranacook pitcher Sarah Maxwell held the Raiders to just one hit through the first four innings.

“I think people were just really wanting to hit and we were up there over-trying to hit,” said senior centerfielder Brylie Walker, who had two of her club’s five hits. “But they really stepped up and relaxed and took their time.”

Though Maranacook (16-3) appeared in control of game, the fifth inning unravelled quickly. The Raiders produced four hits and took advantage of three Black Bear errors to take the lead.

“One inning,” said Maranacook coach Don Beckwith. “We’ve kind of beat ourselves when we’ve gotten beat this year. It’s a game of momentum. They didn’t quit, and we didn’t expect them to quit.”

The bottom of the fifth started with a Maddie Pearson walk. After an out, Kaela Mitchel pinch hit and had an infield hit that was thrown away, allowing Pearson to score.

“Once that first run crossed the plate, we really knew we were still in it,” said Walker. “I think we knew the whole time because we’ve been battling back all season.”

After a second out, another error on a Carla Tripp hit scored Bri Pelkie. Walker followed with a single that plated Tripp to tie the game.

“I felt when we tied it up, I thought we would then go ahead,” said Apt. “We had the momentum. I knew we had to take advantage of it at that  point.”

After Ariel McConkey reached on a hit, Maggie McConkey hit one toward first, and it was misplayed for another error, allowing Walker to score the lead run.

“I knew once we had base runners on, and we had kids hitting that we’d get the runs across,” said Walker.

The Black Bears had just one runner get on the rest of the way. Shelly Ouellette singled to lead off the sixth but was picked off first by Tripp. Fryeburg pitcher Charlotte Lewis scattered eight hits and walked just one and stayed poised throughout.

“Charlotte did a great job” said Apt. “She’s unfazed. No matter what happens, she’s not fazed. The other girls, they look at the pitcher. If she’s down, they’re down and they don’t get down. We don’t panic.”

Fryeburg  (18-1) fell behind in the second when Maranacook scored three unearned runs. An error on a Brooke Skidgel grounder scored one run. Then an Amanda Laporte double plated a pair with two outs to make it 3-0.

“The runs they got, we made some mistakes,” said Apt. “They’re going to put the ball in play. Charlotte hit her spots pretty well, but we made a couple miscues and they took advantage.”

Maxwell allowed a Walker single in the first. She was thrown out trying to steal by catcher Heidi Shaw. It was the first time Walker had been thrown out stealing in her career. The Raiders didn’t get any more base runners until a walk and hit batter in the fourth but both were stranded.

“We were hoping to go .500 and get to the playoffs,” said Apt. “They just worked. It’s a great team, and they believe in each other.”

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